vines, with the special purpose of their recommending to the bishoprics' then vacant in Ireland. "I went up to London," says the bishop,t "against the meeting of the parliament, and on the 12th of December was desired to come to the Bishop of London's lodgings in Whitehall, where a letter from the king was opened, directed to six bishops, and the Deans of Canterbury and St. Paul's, and Dr. Tenison, to consult the best way of settling the church of Ireland, and promoting piety there, and particularly to consider what persons were fit to be made bishops there. We resolved upon one thing immediately, which was to desire his majesty to send home the clergy of Ireland who were here, to their respective cures, if they lay in such places as were under his majesty's protection. On the 15th we met again, and agreed upon such persons as we thought fit to recommend to his majesty for bishops in Ireland. Several other times we met, but I do not remember what was further done." The history of the disposal of church preferment under Queen Anne is the history of the ecclesiastical administration of Archbishop Sharp, who had long been entrusted with responsibility of this kind; first, as chaplain to Lord Chancellor Finch, who, as we have seen, put into his hands all the patronage of his office, and afterwards as one of the two presiding members of William's Commissions. The relation in which he stood to Queen Anne, and the spirit in which he discharged its duties, are thus described by his biographer; the statement is illustrated more fully in the larger extracts that follow : "His situation was something singular, at least for many years in which he served the late Queen; he had constant and free access to her person, and was presumed to have no small share of her confidence and favour during her whole administration, under the conduct of different sets of ministers, of different attachments, excepting the last year of her reign, in which he was rendered incapable, through indisposition, of attending her."§ "The affairs of the church of England were the things that lay at his heart. In these he interested himself deeply and zealously. He looked upon himself, in that post which no intriguing had obtained to him, but providence had allotted him, to be one of her chief pillars, and was resolved to support her with all his might."|| It is a striking testimony to the value of such counsels that the four first names in the annals of Queen Anne's appointments to the bench, are those of Hooper, Beveridge, Bull, and Wake. - [KING WILLIAM III. ARCHBISHOP TENISON.] "Anno 1701, Dec. 2. Humphrey Humphreys, Bishop of Bangor, was translated to Hereford, whereupon the archbishop, on the 4th of January following, being assisted by Henry London, &c., consecrated John Evans, D.D., Bishop of Bangor, in his chapel at Lambeth ... ... "Anno 1702, April 23, he crowned Queen Anne in Westminster Abbey."¶ The Archbishop of York [Dr. John Sharp] "preached the sermon... "It was immediately upon her accession to the crown, that my Lord Nottingham, in a letter wrote to him [Archbishop Sharp] to persuade him to come up without delay to pay his duty to the queen (for he was at that time * It will be recollected there were eight lying vacant. Vid. sup. vol. xvi. p. 510. † Autobiography, p. 159. Comp. sup. § Life, vol. i. P. 251. ¶Le Neve, Archbishops of Canterbury, p. 255. || Ibid. p. 255. in his diocese), uses these words as his argument:-'I ought to tell you I have good reason to believe that your grace is more in her majesty's favour and esteem than any of your order. And judge whether something more than the ordinary respect of a subject is not due to her from you.' "After this he had several conferences with her majesty about ecclesiastical matters; and (says he) 'I thank God, I honestly spoke my thoughts about things and persons. She promised that she would not alter her list of chaplains. I did what good offices I could to my Lord Canterbury, Lord Norwich,' &c. His stay in town was very short upon this occasion. But upon his return to parliament next winter, the queen offered him the almonry and a seat in the privy council, by my lord treasurer. But he entreated to be excused from accepting either, especially the former. He went to the queen; he prevailed upon Lord Nottingham to intercede for him with her, but to no purpose. 44 Accordingly, on Friday, February 5th, he received the almoner's seal. . . . and March 20th, following, he was sworn a privy counsellor, with Lord Thanet and Lord Guernsey. And the queen afterwards told him, that she intended to make him dean of her chapel, if the Bishop of London should drop; and in everything shewed her inclination to oblige him as much as she could. And he, for his part, made it his endeavour to discharge his duty towards her in the best manner, as her divine or casuist, with respect to her spiritual concerns; as a good bishop, with regard to ecclesiastical affairs; and as a faithful counsellor in state points. In the first of these capacities, as her pastor, she trusted very much to his fidelity and skill. She not only allowed him to enter with her into warm discourses about religion, which he often did, when he found proper opportunities for it, but she would send for him on purpose to discourse with her on practical duties, especially before she received the sacrament.... "He spoke often and freely to her about methods of restraining the licentiousness of the town, of regulating the play-houses, of the hurt done to city apprentices &c. by the plays on Saturday nights, of shops kept open on Good Friday, and other indecencies of that sort, which he thought it became the government to prevent. And then, as to her other affairs of a public nature, whether civil or ecclesiastical, she admitted him to an intimate participation in her counsels. In things relating to the church, he was her principal and guide. In matters of state, he was her confident; one to whom she could disclose her thoughts at all times, and in whose faithfulness and friendship she could entirely trust, though she could not always depend upon his judgment in those matters. For, as was before observed, he was a stranger to all that sort of politics which consists in intrigues, cabals, and party schemes, and would have nothing to do with the struggles of the other courtiers and great men striving to surmount each other, not so much in her majesty's favour, as in the great offices and posts in the government. When her majesty was pleased to acquaint him beforehand with any of her designed changes in the ministry, he would give her his advice very freely. And when alterations were made without his privity, and when he was absent in his diocese, he would as freely speak his mind to her about them after they were made. "He quite disapproved of her giving herself up to the conduct of any ministry or set of men whatsoever; and the more so, when she took into favour those whom she disliked, or when she suffered herself to be prevailed with to do anything inconsistent with her former declarations. These things consisted not with his politics, how well soever they might pass at court. And when he was expostulating with her on such occasions, and sometimes using what he calls 'very hard words,' as, 'Poor Queen!' that he truly pitied Sharp's Life of Archbishop Sharp, vol. i. p. 312. her'... and 'prayed God to inspire her with more courage'. . . that 'such or such things were a reflection on her government; or owing to the influence of those who govern you, madam, and govern us all,' or the like; her majesty would then sometimes vindicate her proceedings, and at others look grave, and be silent. But he never could perceive that she was in the least angry with him for this his frankness in declaring his mind, or that she was the more reserved towards him in communicating her own designs and thoughts. And she had indeed this admirable temper and disposition (which in a princess is the more extraordinary and valuable), that she could not bear anything that looked like flattery, but could allow and bear well with plain dealing, though it were such as could not be agreeable to her on any other account but for the sincerity of it, and the true friendship it denoted. Of this he had abundant proof from what he observed in many of his conversations with her."* ."*. . "But perhaps the greatest mark of her esteem and friendship for him was given by her after his death, in the immediate appointment of the man whom he desired to be his successor. There was no favour she could have obliged him in equal to this. Sir William Dawes was a person whom, for his very great worth and abilities, and inviolable attachment to the interests of the church of England, his grace had adopted in his wishes to succeed him in his pastoral charge; for he was a man of gravity and prudence, of decency and courtesy, of singular presence of mind, of extraordinary resolution and constancy, and yet of a moderate and cool spirit, and of exemplary regularity and exactness in all parts of life. And he had moreover a very strong and vigorous constitution, which fitted him to execute with ease the most laborious parts of the episcopal function; which, in Archbishop Sharp's judgment, was of no small moment in the choice of a bishop. Upon these considerations (not to mention Sir William's other natural and personal advantages, viz. a tenacious memory, a graceful mien, a fine address, and a sweet elocution), he drew the queen's affections upon that baronet. And having first procured him the bishopric of Chester, and made experiment of his prudence and assiduity in the management of that large diocese, he made the way more easy for his removal from thence to the metropolis of the province. "It was said above, that in the affairs of the church he was her majesty's principal guide. This is in good measure true, with respect only to ecclesiastical promotions, though more evidently so in other church affairs, as will be shewn hereafter. At present let it be observed, that the interest that he had with her majesty he chiefly employed in procuring preferments for learned and worthy men, or at least her bounty for such of them as were in distress. He had been formerly, as was related above,† an useful friend to men of literature and merit, while he was chaplain to Lord Chancellor Finch, and recommended to preferments in the gift of the seals; and no less so in the commission appointed by King William for approving and recommending to his majesty fit persons to succeed in the crown preferments, in which he was joined with my Lord of Canterbury, and the Bishops of Ely, Sarum, &c. And the same desire of providing the church with able men prompted him to labour this point with the queen; in which he had more success than any one man in her reign, though not so much as he might have expected, could she always have followed her own judgment or inclination. For her ministry were constantly interposing, and directing her in the disposal of ecclesiastical preferments, as well as of civil and military offices. So that frequently she was not at liberty to yield to his influence, and follow his advice. Yet this regard was had to him, notwithstanding, that the queen would rarely give her promise without his advice, and, generally speaking, consent first obtained. And he did not prove unworthy, either of this her majesty's confidence in him, or condescension towards him. For he neither + [Life, pp. 22-25. Ibid. pp. 315-320. Comp. sup. vol. xvi. p. 274, note.] would oppose any man of real worth, upon account of party distinctions; nor would he consent to her preferring any man whose religious principles or morals were ill spoken of or suspected, though he were otherwise of great abilities, useful to the ministry, or favoured at court. He had remarkable struggles with great men upon this score, but he held to his point, and he prevailed, at least as to the promotions in England. He could not bear she should give her preferments to persons who had no other merit, no other title to her favour, than their zeal for a party. And he thought it hard, (and used to tell her majesty so,) that men of known virtue and learning should not share in these favours, purely because they fell under the denomination of party men. He laid before her the ill consequences she would find if she made distinctions of persons as to high and low church in the disposal of her church preferments.' He must mean, if she made party her only or principal rule in the bestowing those preferments. For at one time (as he observes) she refused persons, as he thought, for being Tories. (1705.) At another time, when he recommended, the reason given for the refusal was, that the person he proposed was a notorious Whig. (1713.) He imagined she might depend upon the goodness of her own judgment as to the worth and fitness of persons, if she would but make use of it; and told her, when he proposed several to her for a vacant bishopric, that, whether she put in any of his naming or no, she should put in one of her own choice, and not have one put upon her by others.' It is true that most of those who succeeded in preferments through his friendship were reputed Tories. Yet his applications for his own friends were made with all the justice and fairness that could be to the characters of those of the other party, who happened to have the same preferments in view. For instance, when the living of St. James's was vacant by the promotion of Dr. Wake, his grace proposed Dr. Moss as a fit person for it; and the queen told him, she had thought of him herself; yet, Dr. Trimnel being occasionally mentioned, he gave her a very good character of him. In which, though he did no more than what was just, yet probably Dr. Trimnel was more obliged to him for this lift than to all the interest that was made by his other friends. And the same may be said of the great Bishop Bull, of whose late promotion though the Archbishop of Canterbury seemed to claim the merit, yet she told the Archbishop of York, that she would not have done it but for the great character he had given her before of this Dr. Bull.' He indeed did not rightly approve of this promotion, on account of the doctor's great age. He thought his merit should have been rewarded some other way; and as it was a reflection on the government that a man of such worth should not be earlier preferred, so it might prove a detriment to the church, that he was preferred so late. And as to Dr. Beveridge, who naturally occurs to the mind upon the mention of age and learning among the English bishops, his grace reminded the queen, 'that her father King James had, in her hearing, declared him to be the learnedest man we had in our church.' He delighted indeed in giving her majesty good characters of her clergy, and would never give a bad one, though true, unless the interest of the church obliged him to do so. He used to grieve and complain of the strange misrepresentations which he observed were made to the queen, of persons who deserved her favour and countenance. He set her right as often as he had opportunity, and would sometimes have (as he says) warm talk with her about those who made false representations of persons to her majesty.' "And he had some reason too to expostulate with her on this head, upon "He had before said to my Lord Sunderland, in a letter, June 14, 1703, I heartily wish Dr. Trimnel had some good preferment in the church, for he well deserves it, and indeed I do not know a better man. If my good character of him to her majesty can add anything to her grace's (viz., the Duchess of Marlborough's) recommendation, I am not only ready, but shal be glad to give it at all times.”” his own account, for there were some who had endeavoured to represent him to her majesty, as not being true to her interests, as both my Lord Godolphin and my Lord Marlborough had acquainted him, though the queen herself took no notice of it, nor seemed to receive the least impressions to his prejudice. "But to proceed to his other acts and services for the benefit of the clergy and honour of the church of England. In all ecclesiastical affairs during the queen's reign, he was principally consulted, and, as he applied himself more closely to those as being most properly within his sphere, so his application generally met with success and turned to good account.”* .." Nor were his endeavours ever wanting (though not always successful) for promoting men of the best learning, and encouraging them with rewards proportionably to their merits, insomuch that there were very few men in England of extraordinary knowledge and literature, in the age he lived, to whom his patronage, recommendation, or interest were not at some time or other highly useful, such as Bull, Beveridge, Prideaux, Bentley, Potter, Mills, [Mill,] Grabe, &c. From some of them the acknowledgments to him are still extant, which may not only without injury, but with honour to their memory be here inserted. "The first is a letter from Dr. Beveridge, wrote the day after his consecration, and breathes the primitive spirit of that great man :— 'MAY IT PLEASE YOUR GRACE, Hampstead, July 17, 1704. All things being then, and not till then, prepared for it, I was confirmed upon Saturday last, the 15th instant, and consecrated the Sunday following; which I was at first very unwilling to consent to, being desirous to have had more time to myself between the hurry of a confirmation dinner and the great solemnity of the consecration. But there were but three bishops in or about the town, Rochester, Bath and Wells, and Chichester. The last whereof had appointed business in the country which would oblige him to leave the city before the next Lord's-day. So that if it had not been done then, it must have been put off for a great while longer, which I was very loth it should, for fear the diocese might suffer by it. 'And now the business is over, I could not but take the first opportunity of acquainting your grace with it, or of begging the favour of you that, as you was an instrument, I believe, in God's hand, to call me to this high office in the church, so you would be pleased to assist me with your earnest prayers to Almighty God, that I may be directed or enabled by Him faithfully to discharge the duty He hath laid upon me, to the honour of His great name, the edifying of His church, and to the service of her sacred majesty. Which I have the more ground to hope for, because, as your grace knows, I had no hand in seeking after it myself, but undertook it in pure obedience to the will of God, manifested in His directing her majesty to name me to it, whom she had so little knowledge of. But though she did not, yet God knows how unfit I am for so great and high a station in His church, and notwithstanding hath called me to it; and therefore I trust in Him to carry me through it so that I may give a good account of it to Him at the last day; which that I may, I again most humbly desire your prayers for, my lord, your truly affectionate friend and humble servant, WILL. ST. ASAPH.' "What follows is the conclusion of a long letter from Dr. Mill; but it is all that pertains to our present purpose. 'I have something se of direct concernment to myself, which I beg leave to acquaint your lordship with. The 14th of August last, I took possession of (what I owe, under God, to your grace's goodness and intercession) my prebend of Canterbury. I found Mr. Dean, and everybody there, extremely kind and obliging. And I cannot look upon the easiness of the place, and its suitableness to my • Ibid. pp. 332–338. |